title: Changes in lymphocyte subsets during normal pregnancy.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy women were studied during pregnancy and postnatally, and were compared with lymphocytes from an age-matched non-pregnant control group. Compared with non-pregnant women, the total white cell count was significantly increased at all pregnancies and also post-partum. In pregnancy the absolute number and percentage of T lymphocytes was slightly elevated while almost no changes in B cells were found. No significant changes were found in the percentage of suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+), of helper/inducer (CD4+) T lymphocytes, nor of CD4+/CD8+ ratio at any stage of pregnancy and puerperium. The most remarkable changes of the immune system occurred in the group of HLA-DR+ and CD56+ activated T cells. The cell numbers showed a significant increase in the first trimester (< 14 weeks) and decreased slightly from stage to stage. Lower values in NK (natural killer) cells and higher levels of IL-2 receptor positive T lymphocytes did not reach significant levels of change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kühnert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strohmeier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stegmüller
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halberstadt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens